DP WORLD INDIA CHAMPIONSHIP

October 17, 2025

Rory McIlroy

Delhi GC

Quick Quotes

Q. A great of the and be brilliant finish after the back-to-back bogies on 11 and 12. What is it you say to yourself mentally in those moments?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, obviously not the best way to start the back nine. I felt like I recovered and I scrambled well on the front nine, didn't play that good.

Yeah, the two bogeys -- I knew I had two par 5s coming up and then I thought if I can birdie those, get myself back in the tournament, and that's what I did. A good birdie on 13 after two bogeys and I birdied the two par 5s and made a nice putt on 16 also.

Yeah, it was a strong finish, got myself sort of back in the tournament. I need a strong start tomorrow but yeah, it was much better on the back nine.

Q. You're six back of Tommy. Might that change your strategy at all to come back on the weekend?

RORY McILROY: I don't think so. I think if I'm struggling to hit fairways with my 2-iron, I'm not going to hit it with my driver. Same strategy. Just have to hit it a little closer with my second shots and not miss as many putts. If I can just sort of sharpen everything up a little bit and give myself a few more birdie looks over the weekend, maybe I'll be able to claw my way back closer to the leaders.

Q. I'm keen to delve into the mindset of one of the best players in the world for that response to when you say you want to tighten things up a little bit, obviously you had a nice finish to your round today. What does that mean in practicality heading into the weekend?

RORY McILROY: Maybe being just a little more specific with my targets off the tee, a little more -- I felt like I missed some approach shots in the wrong spot. If I had of hit the same shot on the left side of the pin instead of the right side, I short sided myself a few times out there and gave myself some tricky looks to save par. Even things like that where you're not putting yourself under so much stress. You might hit not a great shot but at least if it's on the right side of the pin you're going to make an easy par and maybe have a birdie look.

Today I just missed too many shots on the wrong side and just having to scramble, and it's pretty stressful trying to play from there. Just a little smarter and just tidy everything up a little bit. As you said it's probably easier said than done, but that's what I'm going to try to do over the weekend.